Lock mechanism



April 26, 1932. E, E NEAL 1,855,687

LOCK MECHANISM Filed 001;. 24, 1929 IN V EN TOR.

w 3 TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED" STATES PATENT LOFFICE ELMER E. N EAL, OFNEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T PEERLESS HANDCUIFF COMPANY, on SE'ITSSPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01E MASSACHU- LOCK MECHANISMApplication'filed October 2 4, 1929. Serial No. 402,189.

This invention relates to an improved lock mechanism constructedparticularly for use 'in officers irons, such ashandcufi's, thumbcuifs,leg irons, and like devices for restricting a prisoners movements; Itwill be described'in its preferred form as a handcuif mechanism, and itsotheruses will be apparent from this description.

The features of the invention will be made clear as its preferred formis describedin detail-and then they will be pointed out in the annexedclaims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 shows one of a pair of handcufis with the sideplate of the lock casing cut away and with all the'par'ts of themechanism-in operative position;

Fig. 1a is adetail view of the corresponding parts of Fig. l'but withthe key in the lock and holding the latch in unlocked position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the spring bolt or latch with its spring; p

' Fig. is a detail view of the bolt for'double locking; Y

' Fig. v'is a detail view of the filler piece for the lock casing whichmakes up the end, top, and bottom walls'of such casing; and

used.

shown, the arm 5 is pivoted at 3 to spaced arms 1 and2 between which thefiller piece 4: is fastened to make up the lock bearing arms.

in the opposite directions is stoppedQby-a ratchet device in the lockmechanism. So if a wristis embraced to stop rotation in one direction,the ratchet stops it in the other, and the braceletis lock'edron thewrist. This general operation is now well known.

According to one feature of my present invention I provide a novellockingmeans for the handcuif which has the advantage of extremesimplicity and in addition the capacity for efiicient operation in theways I in one'aspect this is purpose of my present will describe.

an In constructing the cufii, I place the filler Fig. 5'shows one formof key that may be i in completely-unlocked position. In such- .It willbe understood that in the form In the normal operation, arm 5 may rotatepiece 4 with the parts assembled with it, as shown in Fig. l, on one ofthe side plates and rivet the other side plate, forexample as at thepoints indicated, by rivet pins. Then I rivet arm 5 at pivotal point 3for rotary movement. r

The ratchet teeth 6 (on an are from point 3) are in rotation line withthe latch teeth 7. In the ratchet action the latch 8 moves straight up.and down,.being guided by the casing walls and filler piece 4, and isreturned by its spring 9.

When the teeth are in full engagement, the bolt pusher 10 can be pressedby the end of the 1 1 key or a device like a match to throw bolt 11under latch 8' and double-lock the device against all movement betweenarmson pivot 3. This is the final locked position fort-he prisoner. Thelatch locks automatically in the first place and the bolt 11, operablein v only one direction from without any necessary use of the key, givesthe final locking movement. To'unlock the cuff the key is inserted andturned to move the bolt 11 back, which resets pusher10.. Then acontinued turning of the key engages lug 12 to push it down against itsspring. This lug 12 is preferably formed with a cam end tor-hold thekey-in positionby spring action if left Y backward movement of arm 5unlocks the wrist, It is quite obvious that the pusher pin 10 may be anintegral extension ofbolt 11, if desired, as these two parts always worktogetherwith no necessary separation.

There is considerable advantage, particularly'in handcufi' mechanism, tohave available for use when neededa variety of novel lock mechanisms.That is to'say, from the policemans or manufacturers standpoint it maybe that one mechanism will become so well known" (on,account of thetendency to standardize parts) that there is more danger of its beingpicked by the skilled criminal.

easy change of mechanism is considered, and

invention as contrasted with previous ones.

Therefore, the potentiality of a desired and To put it another way, thenovelty per se has utility in these mechanisms apart from any academicview as to whether one mechanism is an improvement on another.

According to one feature of novelty, the key unlocks both the bolt andpawl by moving the key'in the same direction, rather than by movementsin opposite directions, as in one of my .prior mechanisms. In addition,.the movement of the latch in unlocking is a straight line rather than apivotal movethe side plates of that lockcasing to restrict latch 8 andbolt 11 to the desired straight claim is w '1'. IA lock mechanism forpolice oflicers use,

linemovements.

As previously mentioned, the lock 'mechanism of Fig. 1 has the merit ofextreme SlIIl plicity. The only necessary parts aside-from the lockcasing and arms, are latch ,8, spring 9, boltv 11, and the key. Noskilled work is required in fitting the .lock mechanism or in originallyconstructing its parts. All its merit as an arresting iron ofthesimplest character is due to its design. It makesan effective tool .forthe oificer7s use and there is nothing in it :to get out of order. Thekey hole and ke are shown as ofthe simplest POSSlblGfOTIIl ut it shouldbe understood that these can be made in various other known forms whichrequire only well known changes 0f design to vary such parts for thegeneral Flock making purposes.

Having described my invention, what; I

comprising pivoted locking arms provided with a lock casing, means inthe lock casing for preventing relative rotation of the arms either inone direction or bothd-irections, said 'means including as its essentialparts a :spring pressed latch mounted for straight line movement intoand out of ratchet engagement withone of said arms, a bolt slidable to:and from position toblock said latch against movement, said boltarranged for movement to its blocking position .by means acting fromwithout the casing independently of the key .hole in the casing and-formovement from its blocking position only by a key.

2. A lock mechanism to restrain a'prisoner?s limb movements comprisingrotatable locking arms and a lock casing carried thereby, a spring.latch and a bolt in the lock casing, one of said arms having teeth forlatch engagement, said latch and bolt each arranged-for a straight linemovement one at an angle to the other whereby the bolt may be moved toblock all movement of the latch when the latter is in engagement withsaid teeth.

3. A lock mechanism to restrain a prisonerslimb movements, including alock casing, a bolt slidable on'the bottom of said casing, aspring latchslidable in a straight line against a side wall of said casing at anangle to the bolt, 21 small opening in the oppos1te side wall of thecasing whereby the bolt may be thrown from without the casing "intoposition'toblock said latch movement, said casing having a. key hole anda key to operate said bolt and latch for moving them to unlockedpositions. 7

4. A look mechanism to restrain a prisoners limb movements, including alock cas- .ing, a bolt slidable on the bottom ofsaid casing, a springlatch slidable in a straight line against a side wall of saidcasing :atan angle to the bolt, a small opening inthe opposite side wall of thecasing whereby the bolt may be thrown .from without the casinginto-position to blocksaid latch movement, said casing having .a keyhole and a key'to operate said bolt and latch for moving them tounlocked positions, saidubolt and latch having key engageable partstocause an unlocking movement of both when the key is rotated in onedirection.

.5. A look mechanism to restrain a prisoners limb.movements,including alockcasing, a bolt slidable on the bottom of said casing, a springlatch.slidable'in a straight line against a side wall of said casing at 'anangle to the bolt, a small opening .in the opposite side wall of-thecasing whereby the boltmay be thrown fromwithoutathe casing intoposition to block said latch movement,

said casing having a key hole and a key to operate said bolt and "latch'for moving them to unlocked positions and relatively rotatable lockingarms .onewof which is provided with latch engageable teeth in rotatableline with the top of said lockcasing.

6. A prisonerscufi comprising clasping means, a lock casing rigidlymounted adjacent oneend thereof, a locking arm pivoted at the other endand provided with teeth at its free. end on a peripheral arcin .rotativeline vith "the top of said lock casing, .21 straight latch mounted tomove in a straight line into and out ofengagemen't, with said teeth, aspring forsaid latch, a .key engageable lug on the side of said latch, abolt having a part to underlie sai'd .latch when the latter engages saidteeth, a key engageable shoulder on said boltand means extending foraccess from without the casing to move said bolt to underlie the latchindependently of the keyhole access to the lock casing.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

7 ELMER E. NEAL.

